Chapter 15

The final morning of the weekend arrives with a soft pink light spilling over the lake. My muscles ache, my hair is still slightly damp from the night swim, and sand clings stubbornly to my legs. Annabelle, Emily, and Caitlyn are already up, chattering and plotting their strategies for the last beach games.

“Ready for the final showdown?” Annabelle asks, tying her hair back.

“I was born ready,” I say, stretching and flexing my fingers. “Scarlet is taking this home.”

Emily smirks. “You do realize Indigo has Quinn, right?”

I freeze mid-stretch. “…Oh. Right.”

Cue the fluttery stomach, the oh no here we go moment.

Breakfast is chaos, as expected. Juice spills, crumbs scatter, campers argue over who’s sitting where. Across the mess, Quinn lounges casually in an oversized hoodie that slips off one shoulder, shorts slightly sand-covered, the faint outline of her bikini top showing underneath. She’s watching me from across the room, that mischievous, bossy-but-playful grin plastered on her face.

I glare. Hard.

She smirks back, and somehow, my heart skips a beat.

The last series of beach games begins: obstacle courses, relay races, and one final, ridiculous “capture the flag meets water dodge” event. Scarlet is competing against Gold and Indigo. I’m coordinating my cabin, making sure my campers don’t fall face-first into the sand, while Quinn is orchestrating Team Indigo with a mix of bossy authority and playful shoves that somehow make her seem effortlessly hot.

Mid-game, my eyes catch movement—Reid lurks near the sidelines, smirking as if he’s going to make some comment. My chest tightens.

Quinn notices too. That subtle shift—alert, protective—is instant. Her hoodie slides slightly, hair damp sticking to her forehead as she strides over.

“Back up, don’t you have other things to do?”  she askes, voice low and sharp.

Nathan flushes. “I was just—”

“No,” Quinn interrupts, tone leaving no room for argument. “Go find something to do.”

I watch her, shoulder brushing mine briefly as she stands between me and him. That small contact is electric. I can feel it, heat pooling in my chest.

Nathan mutters and wanders off, defeated, leaving Quinn and me in a bubble of quiet tension.

“…Thanks,” I whisper, heart still racing.

“Anytime,” Quinn murmurs, shoulder nudging mine lightly again. That small, casual touch lingers longer than it should.

The games continue. I’m paired with my cabin in a relay race, sprinting across sand and shallow water. I glance at Quinn—shes sprinting alongside Indigo, hoodie bunched up, shorts sticking to her legs, hair bouncing with every step. Somehow, even in chaotic beach sports, she looks… impossibly good.

We lock eyes mid-race, and there it is: the silent challenge, the teasing tension. I grin, and she smirks back. Sparks fly without a single touch, just the heat of proximity and playful rivalry.

Later, during a calmer moment, I sit on a driftwood log, cooling off, sipping water. Quinn plops down beside me. Hoodie slides slightly off one shoulder again. Shorts sand-covered. Bikini just visible under the oversized fabric. Casual. Hot. Protective. And just far enough away to make me want more.

“Scarlet did… okay,” I mutter, brushing sand from my legs.

“‘Okay’?” Quinn teases, nudging me with her elbow. “…I’d say you dominated.”

I laugh, smirking. “…Sure. Let’s go with that.”

She glances at me, and something soft flickers in her eyes—something almost vulnerable, something I don’t often get to see behind the bossy, mischievous exterior. My chest tightens.

Her shoulder presses against mine lightly. That brush—deliberate or not—sends a jolt straight to me.

The rest of the afternoon is a mix of wrapping up, awarding prizes, and winding down. Campers are tired, sandy, happy. Staff are scattered, joking, teasing each other.

I find myself beside Quinn again, quietly laughing at some minor camper drama. Our shoulders touch lightly. Arm brushes. Every glance, every small touch carries weight.

“…You know,” Quinn murmurs, voice low, playful, leaning slightly closer, “…this summer? It’s been… enjoyable, and it’s only just begun”

I blink, heart thumping. “…Yeah. Enjoyable.”

She glances at me, smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “… Definitely.”

We sit in silence for a moment. Close. Warm. Shoulder to shoulder. Sand sticking to our damp skin. The tension thick.

And I know…

Whatever this is, its about to tip.

I just don’t know if either of us will admit it… yet.